Archive

Lender Exchange: downright wrong or a good idea poorly presented?

Quietly, lenders could be moving closer to taking control of the conveyancing market. It started with the rise in mortgage fraud, which prompted a thematic review by the Financial Services Authority in 2011. Its outcome included recommendations for lenders to review their panels, which kicked off a major policy change in the sector. It led to banks and building societies purging less reputable firms off their books.

Do the right thing

Second marriages and step-children can cause estate-planning dilemmas, so how can you convince your client not to let their heart rule their head, asks Fay Copeland

Therapy, not mediation, can help warring couples

Instead of blindly pushing divorcing couples towards mediation, the government should consider making more resources available for counselling, says Marilyn Stowe

QASA 'justified by sub-standard advocacy', Leveson says

'The cost to advocates of participating in QASA will be in relative terms very small'

Referral to go

Auto-enrolment pensions are coming, and this time they should work, so solicitors would be wise to line up their IFA contacts in readiness, says Scott Gallacher

Bad news for owners of holiday lettings

HMCR's recent victory on business property relief means owners of holiday lets have much more to prove before qualifying, say William Hadley and Fiona Graham

Public law solicitors needed to challenge unfair dismissal cap

'This law penalises pregnant women, disabled people and older workers'

Courts must approve family arbitration awards except in 'rarest of cases'

President of family division calls for streamlined process to be introduced